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Posted 1/26/2010 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
As many of you folk know, this past five years have been challenging; to say the least. Locked up w. my aging Dad, in a leaky old, cold farmhouse, getting him transitioned to decent housing (well, both of us and two dogs and four cats). Just about exactly one year ago, he was admitted to hospital and declared a danger to self and others. From there I got him in an excellent nursing home, where they let him drive the tractor (supervised), and dug up the back forty so he could have a garden. He loved it there and referred to it as his "Woodlawn" the neighborhood he grew up in. Well, I lost him to cancer a week before xmas, past, December lasted six months, so it seemed. All through this I had a sub-par doctor for myself. He was belligerent at times and other times, aloof. I always meant to find another, but never had time or opportunity to look. So, now, as the pressure is off, I found myself an older female doc. (PCP). She is great. She tested me for, and back it came positive for Rheumatoid Arthritis. So, anyone else run into this. All the years of seeking out someone who would actually take my Fibro seriously, now I find out it's Rheumatic Arthritis. So, do I have both?
Posted 1/26/2010 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
You could have both. Many people have more than one serious, chronic, painful illness. Personally, I think the illnesses should be distributed a little more evenly. Not that I want others to share my pain, but I really don't need FOUR chronic medical conditions.

I think you need more than a test to be diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Do the symptoms fit?

I am sorry you've received this diagnosis, but if it's accurate, at least you can start treatment for the proper condition.
Posted 1/26/2010 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately,yes, my symptoms fit. Along w. the pain from Fibro, I have joints and spinal pain which I can't tell whether it's from RA, Fibro, or overdoing. I rarely over do, lately, but everything else in my body is OK, (except cholesterol, family connection), and all the pain and fatigue. I don't know. But at least the docs will stop being so critical when I need medicine for my pain. With the Fbro, I was getting labeled as a "drug seeking addict". No fun to get yelled at by your doc when you are in pain and miserable (dropped that doc by the way).
Posted 1/26/2010 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Tyno,

I am glad that you dropped that doc, I know that feeling. When I first got fibro, I was searching for meds to help. My doc didn't want to give them to me, though she would give me few. Even after diagnosis, all she would say is go skiing, go for walks. Which at that time, I couldn't do, though I tried.

Now I have a doc that understands my pain and is more than happy to give me what I need. Though I take a low dose pain killer, at least I have something to help take the edge off of the pain. The rest I just live with.

It is no fun to be labeled as a drug seeker, we just want some relief. I am glad that you have a good doc now.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 1/26/2010 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank-you karen, and all you great folk here on Healing Well. I truly believe I could not have gotten through the past five He--ish years w/o you all. I truly believe that. Thank-you.
Posted 1/26/2010 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
tyno, I'm so sorry for all you have been through. I'm sorry that you are dx with another
illness. Hoping you find the right combination of meds to ease your pain.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/26/2010 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Tyno I know you have been through a lot so I'm glad your taking care of YOU now.

 

Your former doc should have tested for RA when he was ruling out other things it could have been. rolleyes I know when my RA came back high and I was sent to a rheumy he checked my joints to look for redness and swelling which is a sign of RA. Mine came back high due to Sjogren's and now Celiac. I have bad osteo arthistis in my hands and other places but not RA.

 

There are so many of us on here with auto-immune disorders and fibro there has to be a connection somewhere. My DIL was dxd with RA long before fibro and a friend of my son's was dxd with lupus and fibro, they are in their early 30s.

 

Anyway I'm glad you found a new doc that is taking an interest in you.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

 

Posted 1/27/2010 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thank-you all so much. Today I have wicked Costochondritis. I was really upset last night as present/recently past, who knows, Partner sounds like he's breaking up w. me since I mentioned the RA. He didn't even have the nerve to do it in person, sent me an email. Nice, eh?
Posted 1/27/2010 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Tyno your stressing!!! I have been today too over several things and my body is telling me about it loud and clear. It might make you feel better if you reply to the boyfriends e-mail and take it all out on him, sounds like he deserves to be dumped on. smilewinkgrin You deserve better than him Tyno.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 1/27/2010 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Marlee, I am stressing. And yes, I am in the quagmire over this relationship. A big part of me wants to walk, no run away. But another part is in love with this fellow. So, the heart wants what the heart wants, even if it isn't neat and tidy. Even if it makes no sense. I have proposed a separation to see if I still feel so strongly in several weeks. It seems like a sensible plan. Thank-you all so much for all your love and support.
Posted 1/27/2010 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Tyno! I'm sorry you are going through all this! I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a year and a half ago based on pain and swelling in my hands, wrists, shoulders and knees. I was diagnosed with fibro just last month. There really should be a 'one chronic painful disease' limit.
With the RA you are going to need to find a good rheumatologist. Make sure its someone you like and can talk to, because you are going to have a relationship with him/her for a really long time. There are a lot of good, strong meds used to treat RA now... and once your disease is better controlled, your pain will decrease. In the meantime, has your pcp prescribed any prednisone? It can go a long way towards making you more comfortable while you are waiting for your other meds to start working.
btw, my opinion is that if your boyfriend is bailing on you now.. good riddance! You've got to surround yourself with people who will support you because you are fighting a battle. Besides, life is too short to waste time on jerks!

Good luck to you,
Leila
Posted 1/27/2010 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Leilalee. I don't exactly know what is going on with him. He never acknowledged the email when I wrote to tell him. Like I hadn't written it. He just wrote back that we should be "friends" and end the relationship. Now he's complaining about his health problems. I told him to go home to his mother and sisters to be pampered, and we'll take time off. In the meantime, I won't sit idly waiting for his return. I will continue living my best life, meeting new people, maybe meet someone who appreciates a caring, loyal woman such as myself.
Posted 1/28/2010 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
After all the caring you have given the guy he bails... and then wants you to be his caring friend? "See ya, wouldn't wanna be YA!" Sending prayers that the Good Lord will put just the right friend in your path to ease your loneliness and offer support. You have lots of love to give but you need it in return.

Love wants what is best for the beloved. If you loved that guy then you want what is best for him, to GROW UP! If he wants what is best for you, to be honored and cherished for your true self... he will leave you alone. Just my 2ยข.
Posted 1/28/2010 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Jeannie. I have asked him to leave me alone for two weeks or so, so I can get a perspective. Any port in a storm, I think, is what got me tangled up w. him again, as he was on site, and somewhat helpful, as my Dad lay dying, despite everything I did to try and get treatment for my Dad whom the doctors seemed to have written off. So, that is how it all began again (3rd time in 15 years). The two week hiatus, as I refer to it, is to allow me room and time to see all the angles around how I got re-entrenched with this fellow. I think I know. There was no support from anyone in my Family as I struggled for five years alone to care for my very sick Father. Only this one fellow who came through at the end to assist me in initiating some semblance of treatment in a last ditch attempt to get Dad radiation therapy, which my Dad had asked for, as they'd (the health care system) had basically written Dad off. I fell into this ditch as I had no one else to turn to. Still, the pain and distress this fellow causes me is unbelievable. Disappearing for days on end, not answering the phone when I call, not knowing who he's with (scared it might be a sexual encounter) so I need to go get checked for diseases. Altogether too much to bear.
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